Circular puzzle game



March 14, 1961 l. H. STEINHARDT 2,974,957

CIRCULAR PUZZLE GAME Filed May 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 14, 1961 l. H. STEINHARDT 2,974,957

CIRCULAR PUZZLE GAME Filed May 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IEEIIIII /4 I n-ullllln 2,974,957 CIRCULAR PUZZLE GAME Irving Hartley Steinhardt, 245 E. 11th St, New York, NY.

' The present invention relates to games and more particularly to puzzle games having a game board which may be gircul-ar, rectangular or polygonal in shape, if desire One of the objects of the persent invention is to provide means requiring a considerable amount of planning and foresight to bring about a solution of the puzzle, whose game pieces are moved along paths of a predesigned configuration and in a predetermined order.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means leading to a game or puzzle structure, in which game pieces are to be moved along predetermined paths in order to arrive. in a definite fashion and predetermined order at a final path of substantially circular formation;

A further object of the present invention is to provide means necessitating a considerable amount of manipula- ICC Referring. now to the drawings, the puzzle or game according to the invention includes a game board 10, the

i of which is visible in- Fig. 3 and the top face of which is tion of movable elements or game pieces in order to solve the puzzle. I

An additional object of the present invention is to provide means affording a relatively simple, but rugged puzzle construction which necessitates dexterity and skill and occupies a relatively small space. 5

Still another object of the present invention is toprovide means conducive 'to game piece structures, which" have different profiles and may be joined with or removed from a game board of a puzzle. The above and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed descri'p'tion, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, showing preferred embodiments of the inven- I In-the drawings: Fig. l is: a top plan view of a puzzle playing" or game board embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bottom layer of said game board of the puzzle, supporting part of a gate structure for game pieces, the latter being indicated in dotdash lines;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the top layer of the game board of Fig. 1 looking toward the bottom face of said top layer;

Fig.' 4 is an elevational view of several game pieces of the puzzle;

Fig.5 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the gate structure used in the game board, the toplayer of-the game board illustrate clearly the structure therevisible in Fig. 1. The several layers of the game board are joined together by suitable rivets, dowel pins, glue, or the like. 1

The game board is formed with three passage means extending along dilferent paths, respectively, and respectiv'ely having entrance ends which communicate with each other at a given part transition means of the game board.

The top layer 13 is formed with three slots 14, 15, and 16 which respectively form parts of the three passage means. These slots have entrance ends 14a, 15a, and 16a (Fig. 1) which communicate with each other in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and the slots terminate in close ends 14b, 15b, and 16b.

It will be noted that the slots- 14 and 16 respectively extend along arcs of a common circle surrounded by a circle along which the periphery of the board extends, and the ends 14b and 16b of the slots 14 and 16 are re.- spectively located closely adjacent to each other. The slot 15 has an arcuate portion extending along a circle within the common circle of slots 14 and 16 and a radial or transition portion 15d extending from an end of the arcuate portion 15c to the common circle of the slots 14 and 16. Also, the top layer 13 is formed with an arcuatecutout 17 (Fig. 3) extending from the outer periphery of the layer 13 to the part thereof where the entrance ends 14a-16a of the slots 1416 communicate with each other, so that access may be had to the slots through the cutout 17.

.The bottom layer 11 is formed in its top face with three grooves 18, 19 and 20 which respectively form part of the above three passage means, these latter grooves have entrance ends 18a, 19a and 20a communicating with each other and respectively located beneath the entrance ends of the slots 14-16, respectively. Furthermore, the slots 18-20 respectively terminate in closed ends 18b, 19b, and 20b (Fig. 2). It willbe noted that the closed ends 1812 and 19b of the slots 18 and 19 are visible in Fig; 1 respectively through the slots 14 and 15. Each of the grooves 18-40 is provided with successive portions of successively narrower widths, and the widest of these portions is located adjacentthe entrance end of each groove. Thus, Fig. 2 shows the successively narrower portions -18 of the groove 18 and 19c'19f of the groove 19. The entrance ends 18a20a are slightly wider than the portions 18c--20c, respectively, and the corresponding portions of the several grooves are of the same widths. For example, portions 182, 19c, and 20e are all of the same width. It should also be noted that the slots 14--16 are all of the same width, and it is apparent from Fig. 1 that these slots are slightly Wider than portions'lSf and 20 and slightly narrower than por tions 18e--20e, respectively. I

As is apparent from Fig. 3 offset or intermediate layer portions 12a and 12b on [the underface of top layer 13 of the board 10 cooperate with the grooves 18 to 20 of bottom layer 11 to form part of the above-mentioned three passage means. The intermediate portion 12:: is composed of an 'arcuate strip 21 extending through a'con siderable angle around a central portion 22 of the offset layer, and the edge 22a of the central portion 22 cooperates with the edge 21a of the arcuate strip 21 to define the lateral limits of a passage communicating with the slot 15 and limited downwardly by the top face of I the. bottom layer 11, when both top and bottom layers 13, 11 are in assembled position (Fig. 5

2,974,957,. Patented Mar. 14, 19 61 It will be noted that the edges 21a and 22a are relatively far from each other from the radial portion d of the slot 15 through an angle slightly greater than 180 and then these edges approach each other to provide a pair of groove portions 23 and 24 which are successively of narrower widths than the remainder of the groove formed between the edges 21a and 22a.

In the same way, the outer edge 21b of the strip. 21 cooperates with the inner edge 25 of they portion 12b of the intermediate layer to form a groove 27 which is relatively wide at its end adjacent the entrance end 16a of the slot 16 and has distant from the entrance end 16a of slot 16 a pair of portions 27a and 27b which are of succesedge 25 of the portion 12b of the intermediate layer to.

form the groove 28 which is relatively wide adjacent the entrance end 1401 of the slot 14 and which has-portions 28a and 28b of successively narrower widths, portions 27b and 28b forming extensions of each other. When the stmoture shown in Fig. 3 is inverted and superposed on the structure shown in Fig. 2, the portions 28a and 28b of the groove 28 are located beyond the groove 18 while the portions 27a and 27b of the groov 27 are located beyond the groove 20.

The top face of the game board 10 is provided with indicia shown in Fig. 1 and described below.

The game pieces of the puzzle are shown as they appear during use in Fig. l and are shown in side elevation in Fig. 4 where the several game pieces 30-37 are illus-v trated. All of these game pieces have identical circular upper portions 40 in the form of disks of equal. diameter whose upper faces are visible in Fig. 1. Moreover, the

game pieces are provided with button means respectively fixed to their upper circular portions 40 and cooperating with the above-described passage means. These button means and passage means cooperate with each other to prevent removal of, the game pieces from the game board,

to guide the game pieces for movement along the passage means, and to limit the game pieces to movement respectively through different distances along each of the passage means.

Each of the button means which forms part of a game piece includes a neck portion 41, and all of the neck portions 41 of the game pieces 31-37 extend at any given moment through one of the slots 14--16.

The game piece 30 is provided on its top face 'with the symbol 1. The button means of game piece 30 in'-' cludes a bottom portion 42 having the configuration of a disk, and this portion 42 of the game piece 30 has a diameter equal to that of the entrance ends 18a20a of the grooves 18-20, respectively,-so. that the game piece 30 cannot move along any of the passage means beyond the, v

entrance ends 18a-20a of the grooves 1820. The game piece 31 has the symbol 2 on its top face. The button means of the game piece 31 includes. beneath the neck 41 thereof the stopped portion 43 terminating V in a bottom end 44 of a diameter equal to the width of the groove portions 18c-20c, and this bottom end 44 of game piece 31 extends into any one of the grooves 18--20 and can only move therealong into but not beyond the portions 18c-20c thereof.

The game piece 32 has at its top face the symbol' 3.f

This game piece is identical withthegame piece 31 except that the button means of the game piece 32 terminates;

in a bottom circular portion 45 whose diameter is equal to the width of the portions 18d--20d of the grooves 18-20, respectively.

The game piece 33 has at its top face the symbol 4. The button means of this game piece terminates at its bottom end in a circular portion 4 whose diameter is equal to the width of the portions 18e-20e of the grooves 18-20, respectively.

The game piece 34 has at its top face the symbol 5, and the button means of this game piece terminates in a 4 bottom end portion 4 whose diameter is equal to the width of the portions 18f-20f of the grooves 18-20, respectively.

Thus the game pieces 30-34 have their movement limited by the grooves 18-20 of the lower layer 11. The remaining game pieces 35-37 have button means whose bottom faces slide on the top face of the layer 11 without having any portions which extend downwardly into any of the grooves 18-20, so that the latter grooves do not influence the movement of the game pieces 35-67.

The game piece 35 has a top face provided with the symbol 6. The button means of the game piece 35 terminates in a lower disk portion 48 whose diameter is equal to the widest spacing between the edges 21a and 22a, and 21b and 25. Thus this portion 48 of the game piece 35 is movable on the top face of the lower layer '11 along the space between the strip portion 21 and the symbol 8, and the button means of this game piece terminates at its bottom end in a disk portion 50 whose diameter is small enough to permit the game piece 37 to enter into the groove portion 24, the groove portion 27b, or the groove portion 28b. The movement of the game-piece 37 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 beyondqthe groove portion 28!) toward the groove por tion 27b is limited by the engagement of the neck 41 of the game piece 37 with the end 14b of the slot 14, and in the same way this game piece cooperates with the slot 16 so that it cannot move from the groove portion 27b to groove portion 28b.

The symbols 1-8" of the several game pieces are clearly visible in Fig. 1.

It will be noted from Fig. '1 that the top face of the game board 10 is provided with copies of these symbols respectively located along the slots 1416 substantially at the distances that the game pieces can be moved along the-slots, respectively.

The game pieces may be introduced into the passage means from outside of the game board by passing the neck of the game pieces through the cutout 17 (Fig. 3). Of course, when introducing the game pieces, in order to arrange them all in one of the passage means, it is necessary to introduce first the game piece 37, then the game piece 36, and so on.

7 When all of the game pieces are introduced into the game board the cutout 17 is closed by a gate means which will now be described. This gate means is located between the upper and lower layers of the game board and includes a gate member 51 (Fig. 2) pivoted at its end 51a. as seen in Fig. 2, to the lower layer '11. The gate mem ber 51 has fixed thereto or integrally formed therewith a portion 52 which substantially fills the cutout 17 when the gate is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the portion 52 as well as the cutout 17 are located along an arc of a circle whose center is in the pivot axis of the gate member 51 so that the portion 52 moves easily into and out of the cutout 17. The left free end portion of the gate member 51, as viewed in Fig. 2, is formed in its underside with a notch 53 shown most clearly in Fig. 7, and the lower surface portion of the gate member 51 nearest to the center of the game board is provided with a bevel 54, shown in Fig. 7 for a purpose described below. An arcuate springy member 55, which maybe made of a suitable plastic or the like, is riveted at its end 55a as viewed in Fig. 2 to the layer 11, and the layer 11 is formed with a recess 56,

' other.

shown most clearly in Fig. 8, located beneath the free end portion of the springy member 55 so that the latter can be depressed to locate its bottom face below the top face of the layer 11, the springy member 55 being shown in its depressed condition in Fig. 8.

Assuming that the gate member 51 has been swung in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to an open position, in order to close the gate member it is only necessary to turn it in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, back to the position shown in Fig. 2, and at the end of such movement the bevel 54 of the gate member 51 rides over and depresses the free end of the springy member 55 so that the latter automatically snaps into the notch 53 to hold the gate member releasably in its closed position. The layer 11 also carties at its top face a small stop pin 57 (Fig. 6) which is received in another notch 58 of the gate member 51, so as to limit the turning of the latter in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2.

In order to open the gate member, a key 60, shown in elevation in Fig. 9, is provided. The shank 61 of this key terminates in its end opposite the handle 62 in a reduced end portion 63 which is inserted into a recess 64 (Fig. 2) formed in the top face of the layer 11, the top layer 13 being formed with a cutout 65 so that the opening 64 is accessible and so that the key 60 can be used. With the end portion 63 of the key 60 in the opening 64, the operator turns the key in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, from the dot-dash to the solid line position of the extension 66 of the key 60.

This extension 66 extends laterally from the shank 61 and has a bottom beveled face 67 which during turning of the key in the manner shown in Fig. 6 engages the springy member 55 to depress the latter to the position shown in Fig. 8, so that during the continued turning of the key the extension 66 thereof will engage the gate member 51 and move it sufiiciently beyond the spring 55 to prevent the latter from again latching the gate member so that the gate member can now be turned to its open position, and this is the procedure which is followed whenever it is desired to remove game pieces from the game board. Once the gate means has been opened the key 60 can be removed since the gate means is closed in the manner described above without the use of any key or the like.

As may be seen from Fig. 1 a numeral 8 may be located at the center of the game board, if desired.

Assuming that the puzzle has the position shown in Fig. 1 where the game pieces are arranged in sequence along one of the passage means, in order to play the game it is necessary for the operator to shift the game pieces until they are located in sequence in either one of the other two passage means. For example, the game piece 30 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to the entrance end of the slot 14, and then the game piece 31 can be moved into the psoition 2 of the slot 15, after which the game piece 30 can be moved to the position 1 of the slot 15 to enable the game piece 32 to be moved to the position 3 of the slot 14. Then the game piece 30 can be moved back to the position shown in Fig. l, the game piece 31 can be moved to the position 2 of slot 14, the game piece 30 can then be moved to the entrance end of the slot 14, andthe game piece 33 can then be moved to the position 4 of the slot 15.

In this way the pieces are shifted until they are located in proper sequence in a passagemeans different from that in which they are located in Fig. 1.

, its open position. v

It will thus be seen that the game of the inventionincludes a game board formed with at least three passage 'means respectively having entrance ends located in the same part of the board and communicating with each v These passage means respectively extend along three different paths from the entrance ends thereof and respectively terminate in closed ends. A plurality of guide the game pieces along the three passage means.

At least one of the passage means and the button means cooperate with each other to limit the movement of the game pieces respectively to diiferent distances along this one passage means from the entrance end thereof, and the game pieces respectively have diflerent visible symbols which are respectively indicative of the distance that the game pieces can be moved along the said one passage means.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as riphery of said upper layer to said part of said board so that game pieces may be moved through said cutout to or from said part of said board, a gate member turnably connected to at least one of said layers and having a portion located in and substantially filling said cutout when said gate member is in aclosed position, said gate member being turnable to an open position where said portion of said gate member is located out of said cutout to give access through said cutout to said part of said game board, I I said gate member having a free end portion formed with a notch, a springy member fixed at one end to said board between said upper and lower layers thereof and having an opposite free end located in said notch for releasably maintaining said gate member in its closed position, and manually operable means for moving said gate member at least part of the Way from its closed position toward 2. A game comprising a game board having at least two layers, an upper layer and a lower layer, respectively, said upper layer being provided with a cutout and with a plurality of passage means extending into said lower layer, transition means interconnecting one of said passage means with the remaining passage means, all said passage means being arcuate inshape and with said one pas- I sage means arranged concentrically to and surrounded by the remaining passage means, said remaining passage means being complementary to each other and being provided with closed ends located adjacent each other and remote from said transition means, said transition means extending radially from said one passage means, then intersecting said remaining passage means and being aligned with said cutout, means connected to said lower layer for limiting displacement of play pieces from said transition means to difierent distances along said passage means, respectively, and a gate member movable out of and into said cutout to provide first access for play pieces through said cutout via said transition means into said'passage a means, respectively, and then when moved into said cut-- out to permit unobstructive displacement of play pieces past said gate member through said transition means and along said passage means in predetermined sequence.

References Cited in the file of this patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS an M... 4, 1890 1 Teipel June 26, 1923' 

